While the main symptom of dementia is significant memory loss, it isn’t the only symptom. Seniors with dementia can also experience severe mood swings and become easily angered or agitated by things that didn’t bother them previously.
If you’re wondering how you can calm down someone with dementia, you’re not the only one. Many family members and caregivers deal with the symptoms of dementia regularly. If you take a little time and effort, you can identify the source of your loved one’s anger or agitation and take practical steps to calm them down.
What Causes Agitation for People with Dementia?
Those suffering from dementia can experience agitation and anxiety that causes them to act out or get overly angry. This can happen for many reasons. Many dementia patients have lost their ability to read body language, so you can upset them without knowing it. If you look irritated or distracted, this can anger your loved one.
Those suffering from dementia also lose the ability to control their mood. This means they can’t calm themselves down, resulting in acting out. Also, once they get angry, they have difficulty calming themselves down or letting go and moving on.
How Do You Calm Down Someone with Dementia?
There’s no sure-fire way to calm down someone with dementia. Each person’s experiences are different, and different circumstances and situations can trigger each person. Continue reading for some tips on how you can try to calm down someone with dementia. Remember that the following tips require trial and error to see what works best for your loved one.
Touch
The human touch can be very calming. It can create or improve bonds and trust. It can also help de-escalate a stressful situation. Just be mindful that someone who is extremely angry might not want to be touched at that moment, so it’s essential to use proper judgment.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is known for its calming effects. Scents like lavender can bring calmness while also improving sleep.
Pet Therapy
While seniors with dementia might not be able to care for pets of their own, pet therapy can improve and stabilize the mood of stressed or agitated seniors.
Routine
Sticking to a daily routine can help keep a senior with dementia calm. The familiarity of a daily routine can help jog your loved one’s memory while also giving them some sense of stability.
Provide Resources
The best resources for seniors with dementia are patience and understanding. Be sure your loved one understands that you’re sympathetic and listen to their feelings.
Nevada Adult Day Healthcare Can Help
While there are no fail-proof methods to calming down someone with dementia, trying the above methods could help alleviate some of the stress or agitation your loved one is feeling. You can also look into enrolling them in an adult day care center that specializes in aiding seniors suffering from dementia and other illnesses. Nevada Adult Day Healthcare Centers provides seniors with many different resources and services. Contact us to find out more.
